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Sunday, July 29, 2012

Coming to Amerika:patriotism classes

Tens of thousands including teachers and parents pushing strollers took to Hong Kong
streets Sunday to protest the upcoming introduction of Chinese
patriotism classes they fear will lead to brainwashing, the latest sign
of growing discomfort over Beijing's influence in the semiautonomous territory.

Students and pro-democracy activists were among those who marched to the Hong Kong government's
headquarters to protest the new curriculum, which authorities are
encouraging schools to begin using when classes resume in September.

They fear the classes will be used to brainwash children into supporting China's Communist Party. The government has denied that and says they are aimed at building Chinese national pride.

The
controversy flared up after reports emerged that pro-Beijing groups
published a booklet for use in classes that extolled the virtues of
one-party rule.

"China wants
Hong Kong's next generation to know how great it is and not know the bad
stuff," said Chan Yip-Long, a 9-year-old primary school student. "The
booklet is very biased, so I am opposing it."

The
protest is the latest sign of growing discontent in Hong Kong over
mainland China's increasing influence 15 years after the freewheeling
financial center was returned to China by Britain following more than a
century of colonial rule. Tensions have also been stoked by growing
economic inequality and as well as an influx of free-spending wealthy
Chinese, who are seen as driving up property prices and shop rents.

Hong
Kongers are also angry about stunted democratic development. Beijing
has pledged that Hong Kong can elect its own leader in 2017 and all
legislators by 2020, though no roadmap has been laid out. On July 1,
tens of thousands of people protested over the city's new leader, Chief
Executive Leung Chun-ying, who was chosen by an elite pro-Beijing
committee and is widely suspected of having close ties to the Communist
Party.
Sunday's demonstrators carried placards and banners and
shouted slogans calling for the government to withdraw its plan to
introduce the Moral and National Education curriculum.
The
government has stood firm and plans to make the subject compulsory in
primary schools starting in 2015 and in secondary schools the year
after, although schools are encouraged to start using it earlier.

According
to the curriculum guidelines, students will learn about China's
political leaders, the efforts and contributions they have made and the
difficulties and challenges they face, as well as how to "speak
cautiously," practice self-discipline and get along well with others in a
rational and respectful manner.

Police
estimated 32,000 people turned out for Sunday's protest. Despite
blazing heat, many parents were there, pushing infants and young
children in strollers. A group of young girls chanted, "We want the
truth, we don't want brainwashing."